Picture-exhibitor.



No. 729,111. PATENTED MAY 26, 1903.

J. Q. ADAMS.

PICTURE EXHIBITOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25 1902.

N0 MODEL.

WITNESSE 8 Q1. weoe. XWM 614 mm UNirnn STATES 3 Patented May 26, 1903.

JOHN Q. ADAMS, OF TUSCOLA, MICHIGAN.

PICTURE-EXHIBITOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,11 1, dated May 26, 1903.

Application filed February 25, 1902. Serial No. 95,587. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it nuty concern:

Be it known that LJOHN Q. ADAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tuscola, in the county of Tuscola and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Picture-Exhibitors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention is an operating mechanism for picture-exhibitors; and the improvement consists in certain means and devices, which will be fully described in the following specification and set forth in the claim forming part thereof.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view, broken away in parts, showing the operating mechanism of a picture-exhibitor; and Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic View showing the relative positions of the actuating-roller and the elevating-arms. r

. As is clearly shown in the drawings, the device consists in a frame or case 1, in the front 1 of which the pictures are exhibited to View. The case is preferably mounted on a flat table or stand 2, which may be of any convenient shape or dimensions. Below the table is mounted the actuating-roller 3, the ends of which may be journaled in any supportingframe, such as the legs of the table 2 or upon a stand secured to the floor. The particular manner of supporting the roller 3 is immaterial to my invention, and illustration of such supporting means is omitted from the drawings for the sake of clearness.

The interior of the case 1 is provided with interior guides or strips 1", arranged vertically to permit the picture-carrying frames 4, 5, and 6 to slide vertically into the case 1 or to drop out of sight below it. To the lower edge of each of the frames 4, 5, and 6 is pivoted a pair of links 4 5, and 6, which 0011- nect at their lower ends with pairs of actuating-arms 4 5", and 6. These arms are pivotally mounted at their rear ends upon a rod 7, which is parallel with the axis of the roller 3 and may be supported from the frame of the table 2 in the same manner as the roller. Raising and lowering the arms 4", 5, and 6 3 for each picture.

will raise or lower the picture-carrying frames 4, 5, and 6. The means by which these arms are actuated up and down is as follows: Near its pivoted end each arm is curved or bowed upwardly, as at 8 in Fig. 2, and then bent forward to form a straight portion 9, the junction of the bowed portion and the straight portion forming a sharp corner 10,

the purpose of which will now be indicated. Pairs of radial pins 4 5, and 6 are mount ed on the roller 3 and so arranged that the outer ends of each pair of pins will, when the roller 3 is revolved, simultaneously engage the corners 10 of an actuating-arm, and thereby raise the arm, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The radial distance from the pivot 7 to the corner 10 is much greater than the radial length of the pins. Therefore when the arm has reached the proper height the pins will slip off the corner 10 and allow. the arm to drop suddenly to its lowest position, The arms are preferably mounted in" pairs, as shown in Fig. 1, in order to secure lateral stiffness and strength.

Each succeeding pair of arms is made narrower and shorter in order to permit the entire series of arms and links to be nested one within the other and to operate without interfering, as is shown in Fig. 1. I prefer in practice to so space the pins around the circumference of the roller and to so proportion the parts of the device that when one picturecarrying frame, such as 4, is in full View, as is shown in Fig. 1, the next frame 5 will be about half raised and the third frame 6 will be in its lowest position. By this arrangement the pictures can be exhibited very rapidly with only a small rotation of the roller The frame 5 requires but a small movement of the roller 3 to bring it in position for View, and the same small movement of the roller disengages' the pins 4, releasing the arm 4, its links 4,- and the frame 4, permitting them to drop out of sight instantly. 7

While I'have shown and described only three picture-carrying frames, it is evident that any convenient number of frames may be used and that one frame may carry not only a single picture, but several pictures, to be viewed simultaneously, if desired.

By the means above described I have proand raised by said pins and to be automatically released therefrom as the roller revolves; pairs of upwardly-extending links pivotally mounted on the fronts of said arms; and vertically-slidable picture-carrying frames pivotally mounted on the upper ends of said links, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN Q. ADAMS. Witnesses:

FRED HONOLD, HILTON RICHARDSON. 

